by Scott Fennessy
The Cubs continue their home stand with game two against the hated Cardinals. Good news for the cards as reserve utility man Arthur Hoelskoetter who had missed most of the young season after injuring his ankle breaking up a double play has come back, allowing them the needed flexibility they have missed so far.
West Side Park Chicago, IL 5/28/1905
Jake Thielman pitching for St. Louis, Mordecai Brown for Chicago
St. Louis takes their first lead of the series in the opening frame as Homer Smoot draws a two out walk on 4 pitches as Brown tries everything in the arsenal but Smoot isn’t falling for it. He steals second on a 1-0 count and scores on Mike Grady’s booming double into the right center gap. Brown strikes out Arndt to end the inning, but the redbirds take a 1-0 lead. The Cubs immediately get the run back in the bottom of the inning as Billy Maloney who is having a good year so far sends a blooper over second, and steals that base on the 3rd pitch to the red hot Johnny Evers, who then hits a single through the box and Maloney scores easily. Evers also steals second, but Thielman settles down and retires the next three hitters with no further scoring. Inning ends tied at 1.
Both teams have one batter reach base in the second but nobody score. The Cardinals reclaim the lead in the third when Bill Shannon who has been struggling mightily this year dribbles a grounder into the hole between short and third base for a single. Clarke hits a grounder, Shannon moving to third and scoring on a single by Smoot. Smoot steals his second base of the game but is stranded there as Brown gets two weak fly balls to end the threat, but St. Louis is back on top 2-1. The Cubs again put their high powered offense in the bottom of the third as Maloney hits a screaming liner just past the reach of the diving Jake Beckley at first. This one goes into the corner, and Billy slides in just ahead of Burke’s tag for the triple. Evers hits a single into left scoring Maloney with the tying run and steals second again and moves to third after Arthur Hofman (left) hits a deep fly to right. Thielman’s slider gets past Grady who is really having a bad day behind the plate scoring Evers for the lead run. Jake settles down and no further runs score but now the bruins are back on top 3-2.
Brown seems refreshed after coming to the mound and mows the birds in order for the top of the 4th, but the Cubs are just getting warmed up. Kling hits a one hop rocket that hits McBride in the chest and by the time he get the ball and throws to first Kling’s on with an error. . He then steals his second base of the game and two outs later scores on Maloney’s third hit of the game. Evers pops a lazy fly to Clarke and the inning ends Cubs 4 Cards 2.
Another 1-2-3 inning for Brown, and offense is on the go again. Thielman who is now tiring groves a BP fastball and Hofman does not miss. This one is in the stands and Thielman is very upset with himself. Chance hits a shot into right and moves to second on a grounder, and scores on Kling’s RBI single chasing Thielman from the game. McDougal retires Casey but the inning ends 6-2.
After retiring 8 straight batters Smoot gets his second hit of the day. Having seen several pick off attempts Homer is off for second and ducks in easily under Tinkers swipe tag for his third of the day, and now the redbirds have something doing. Two outs later Beckley hits a single to center scoring Smoot. “Sunset Jimmy” Burke draws a 5 pitch walk but McBride grounds out to end the inning and the birds are down 3-6. The cubbies still have a big lead but continue to attack. Maloney who is 3 for 3 gets the “unintentional intentional pass” as McDougal is being too careful. Chance calls for the hit and run and Evers, who is possibly the hottest hitter in the league right now delivers again and the runners are on the corners with just one out. Hofman hits a tough grounder to second and while Arndt makes a great play Maloney scores and Evers moves to second. Chance delivers with his second hit of the game and after getting picked off first the Cubs end the inning on top 8-4.
Neither team scores in the 7th, and Grady takes Brown’s first pitch in the 8th and hits a deep fly to right center where Schulte and Maloney can only watch it clear the fence for a homer and Grady’s second RBI of the game. But that ends the scoring as Brown shuts the inning down with no further runners allowed to reach. Win Kellum who has been pretty brutal this season in relief strikes out two in the 8th, and 3 for the game and retires all 6 batters he faced, but despite Pinch hitter Leahy reaching on an error by Doc Casey and Bill Shannon’s third hit of the game with his best performance of the year by far, but Pepper Clarke hits a liner Chance at first both runners holding and Brown who was tiring at last slips a changeup past Smoot to end the game with the Cubs winning 8-4. They are now just percentage points behind the Giants who play later today.
Speed killed for both teams today. St. Louis had 5 (3 by Smoot) and the Chicago had 7 (Evers with 3). Hofman’s homer in the 5th was his second of the season. Considering he has only one 1 on his card I am very pleased. He still has a way to go to catch “Duke” Bresnahan of my 01 Orioles for most homers for a player with only 1 second column one. Roger had 5. Both players have 02-02-01 cards. This ends the short home stand and the Cubs have high hopes of catching the Giants as they play the struggling Reds in Cincinnati
Ed. note: Scott has sent me his stat totals for his replay so far. I’ll be posting them soon. Stay tuned! -Tom
